'The' big question.
The big question? Well, it is one the general travelling public and the absent media must answer. Do you want to travel in an airspace where prolonged exposure to uncontrolled airspace is accepted as the new norm ; or, airspace managed by controllers separating your aircraft from other aircraft who are fatigued to the point of exhaustion?
Read this:-
“Sectors combined when they previously were not. Get slammed. Tricky winds meant that base is very hard to judge. Every sequence is tight. Few hours to go. Separating and sequencing traffic until the last minute of my shift which finishes at 2300. Despite getting home close to midnight I look forward to my by this point day and a half off.”
“Wake up to 2 missed calls and a text. Can I give them anything? No, sorry. I’m tired. Same again next morning. They’re desperate. Anything I can do will keep airspace open. Fine I will give you 4 hours. Get in and asked to extend? No Im back at 0530 tomorrow. Get slammed for 4 hours working sectors combined that we previously had staff to work split. Regret coming in. Read an email on my break from an executive essentially saying we are slacking and it is the fault of the operational ATC that the staffing and airspace crisis is the way it is.”
If you haven't read that post on the UP, find a moment. Becoming an ATC is much the same as becoming a pilot – you have to mean it and want to do it – as a career. These are not 'jobs' you stroll into and discard for 'other' types of work. A big part of the job is occasionally 'going the extra mile' for the company; there would not be too many pilots or ATCO who have not arrived home – flogged – and had 'the call' “Charlie is off sick can you cover his shift tomorrow? Mostly, provided we are 'time legal' the answer is “Aw OK then”. Kid's day at the zoo cancelled, birthday parties missed, golf cancelled etc. But we turn out – an accepted occasional part of the gig. Provided it is 'occasional' and there is a trade off – “do today and take Sunday and Monday off” – not many, despite 'the grumbles' will refuse to 'help out'. Not until it becomes apparent that 'management' is taking serious liberties and creating serious risk levels. Then the answer to 'do another shift' must be NO. A serious, across the board NO.
There are compelling, supported, proven reasons for 'limitations' on duty hours being imposed – the effects of long term fatigue well known. Those limitations serve to alleviate one of the 'sinister' affects of prolonged exposure to 'difficulties' during a shift. One day from Hell is often followed by a couple of a 'stroll -in-the-park' days. But prolonged exposure, in a rapidly changing high risk environment has a cumulative effect. Stressed, fatigued people make errors, even in a simple environment like a building site; clear as day. Mistakes are made, people get hurt. It is counter productive, ultimately expensive and increases the risk equation to the point where even driving home after a long, hard shift the chances of accident are increased. Rant over..
“To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”
Toot – tick-tock – toot....
The big question? Well, it is one the general travelling public and the absent media must answer. Do you want to travel in an airspace where prolonged exposure to uncontrolled airspace is accepted as the new norm ; or, airspace managed by controllers separating your aircraft from other aircraft who are fatigued to the point of exhaustion?
Read this:-
“Sectors combined when they previously were not. Get slammed. Tricky winds meant that base is very hard to judge. Every sequence is tight. Few hours to go. Separating and sequencing traffic until the last minute of my shift which finishes at 2300. Despite getting home close to midnight I look forward to my by this point day and a half off.”
“Wake up to 2 missed calls and a text. Can I give them anything? No, sorry. I’m tired. Same again next morning. They’re desperate. Anything I can do will keep airspace open. Fine I will give you 4 hours. Get in and asked to extend? No Im back at 0530 tomorrow. Get slammed for 4 hours working sectors combined that we previously had staff to work split. Regret coming in. Read an email on my break from an executive essentially saying we are slacking and it is the fault of the operational ATC that the staffing and airspace crisis is the way it is.”
If you haven't read that post on the UP, find a moment. Becoming an ATC is much the same as becoming a pilot – you have to mean it and want to do it – as a career. These are not 'jobs' you stroll into and discard for 'other' types of work. A big part of the job is occasionally 'going the extra mile' for the company; there would not be too many pilots or ATCO who have not arrived home – flogged – and had 'the call' “Charlie is off sick can you cover his shift tomorrow? Mostly, provided we are 'time legal' the answer is “Aw OK then”. Kid's day at the zoo cancelled, birthday parties missed, golf cancelled etc. But we turn out – an accepted occasional part of the gig. Provided it is 'occasional' and there is a trade off – “do today and take Sunday and Monday off” – not many, despite 'the grumbles' will refuse to 'help out'. Not until it becomes apparent that 'management' is taking serious liberties and creating serious risk levels. Then the answer to 'do another shift' must be NO. A serious, across the board NO.
There are compelling, supported, proven reasons for 'limitations' on duty hours being imposed – the effects of long term fatigue well known. Those limitations serve to alleviate one of the 'sinister' affects of prolonged exposure to 'difficulties' during a shift. One day from Hell is often followed by a couple of a 'stroll -in-the-park' days. But prolonged exposure, in a rapidly changing high risk environment has a cumulative effect. Stressed, fatigued people make errors, even in a simple environment like a building site; clear as day. Mistakes are made, people get hurt. It is counter productive, ultimately expensive and increases the risk equation to the point where even driving home after a long, hard shift the chances of accident are increased. Rant over..
“To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”
Toot – tick-tock – toot....